Methods and systems for transforming particle data

Abstract

In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method is provided for processing data from a particle analyzer. The method includes transforming data using at least one transform that provides: transformation according to a weighted combination of a first mathematical function and a logarithmic function for positive data values, such that the transformation corresponds to the first mathematical function for positive particle data values approaching zero, and to the logarithmic function for positive particle data values approaching infinity; and transformation corresponding to a second mathematical function for negative data values. The transformed data may be then output for display or storage. In another embodiment, the transforming involves substituting the particle data for an independent variable in the transform to directly obtain values to be plotted based on the input particle data values.

1. A computer-implemented method for analyzing, for each particle, particle data from a particle analyzer, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving particle data for each particle at a computer; 
 transforming the particle data for each particle with the computer using at least one transform that provides:
 a first transformation according to a weighted combination of a first mathematical function and a logarithmic function for positive particle data values, wherein said transformation corresponds to the first mathematical function for positive particle data values approaching zero; and 
 a second transformation corresponding to a second mathematical function for negative particle data values, to generate transformed data; and 
 
 outputting the transformed data, 
 wherein the at least one transform comprises the steps of:
 (a) multiplying the first mathematical function by a first weight function; 
 (b) multiplying the logarithmic function by a second weight function; and 
 (c) summing the results of steps (a) and (b), and 
 
 wherein the first weight function is continuous over a range in particle data values (0, +∞), and monotonically decreases from 1 to 0 over a range (0, +∞) in particle data values. 
 
     
     
       2. A computer-implemented method for analyzing, for each particle, particle data from a particle analyzer, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving particle data for each particle at a computer; 
 transforming the particle data for each particle with the computer using at least one transform that provides:
 a first transformation according to a weighted combination of a first mathematical function and a logarithmic function for positive particle data values, wherein said transformation corresponds to the first mathematical function for positive particle data values approaching zero; and 
 a second transformation corresponding to a second mathematical function for negative particle data values, to generate transformed data; and 
 
 outputting the transformed data, 
 wherein the at least one transform comprises the steps of:
 (a) multiplying the first mathematical function by a first weight function; 
 (b) multiplying the logarithmic function by a second weight function; and 
 (c) summing the results of steps (a) and (b), and 
 
 wherein the second weight function is continuous over a range in particle data values (0, +∞), and monotonically increases from 0 to 1 over a range (0, +∞) in particle data values. 
 
     
     
       3. A computer-implemented method for analyzing, for each particle, particle data from a particle analyzer, the method comprising the steps of:
 receiving the particle data for each particle at a computer; 
 transforming the particle data for each particle with the computer using at least one transform that provides: 
 a first transformation according to a weighted combination of a first mathematical function and a logarithmic function for positive particle data values, wherein said transformation corresponds to the first mathematical function for positive particle data values approaching zero; and 
 a second transformation corresponding to a second mathematical function for negative particle data values, to generate transformed data; and 
 outputting the transformed data, 
 wherein the second mathematical function is an odd-symmetric function of the first mathematical function over a range (−∞,0) in particle data values. 
 
     
     
       4. A system for transforming particle data generated by a particle analyzer, for each particle analyzed, comprising:
 a computer configurable to be coupled to the particle analyzer, wherein the computer comprises: 
 a transformer module that provides:
 a first transformation of particle data for each particle analyzed according to a weighted combination of a first mathematical function and a logarithmic function for positive particle data values, wherein the first transformation corresponds to the first mathematical function for positive particle data values approaching zero; and 
 a second transformation corresponding to a second mathematical function for negative particle data values, wherein the second mathematical function is an odd-symmetric function of the first mathematical function over a range (−∞,0) in particle data values, to generate transformed data. 
 
 
     
     
       5. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to transform particle data for each particle of a plurality of particles, said control logic comprising:
 a first computer readable program code that enables the computer to perform:
 a first transformation of data for each particle of the plurality of particles according to a weighted combination of a first mathematical function and a logarithmic function for positive particle data values, wherein the first transformation corresponds to the first mathematical function for positive particle data values approaching zero; and 
 a second transformation corresponding to a second mathematical function for negative particle data values, wherein the second mathematical function is an odd-symmetric function of the first mathematical function over a range (−∞,0) in particle data values, to generate transformed data. 
 
 
     
     
       6. A system for transforming particle data generated by a particle analyzer, for each particle analyzed, comprising:
 a computer configurable to be coupled to the particle analyzer, wherein the computer comprises: 
 a transformer module that provides:
 a first transformation of particle data for each particle analyzed according to a weighted combination of a first mathematical function and a logarithmic function for positive particle data values, wherein the first transformation corresponds to the first mathematical function for positive particle data values approaching zero; and 
 a second transformation corresponding to a second mathematical function for negative particle data values, and 
 
 wherein at least one transformation comprises the steps of:
 (a) multiplying the first mathematical function by a first weight function; 
 (b) multiplying the logarithmic function by a second weight function; and 
 (c) summing the results of steps (a) and (b), and 
 
 wherein the first weight function is continuous over a range in particle data values (0, +∞), and monotonically decreases from 1 to 0 over a range (0, +∞) in particle data values, to generate transformed data. 
 
     
     
       7. A system for transforming particle data generated by a particle analyzer, for each particle analyzed, comprising:
 a computer configurable to be coupled to the particle analyzer, wherein the computer comprises: 
 a transformer module that provides:
 a first transformation of particle data for each particle analyzed according to a weighted combination of a first mathematical function and a logarithmic function for positive particle data values, wherein the first transformation corresponds to the first mathematical function for positive particle data values approaching zero; and 
 a second transformation corresponding to a second mathematical function for negative particle data values, 
 
 wherein at least one transformation comprises the steps of:
 (a) multiplying the first mathematical function by a first weight function; 
 (b) multiplying the logarithmic function by a second weight function; and 
 (c) summing the results of steps (a) and (b), and 
 
 wherein the second weight function is continuous over a range in particle data values (0, +∞), and monotonically increases from 0 to 1 over a range (0, +∞) in particle data values, to generate transformed data. 
 
     
     
       8. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to transform particle data for each particle of a plurality of particles, said control logic comprising:
 a first computer readable program code that enables the computer to perform:
 a first transformation of data for each particle of the plurality of particles according to a weighted combination of a first mathematical function and a logarithmic function for positive particle data values, wherein the first transformation corresponds to the first mathematical function for positive particle data values approaching zero; and 
 a second transformation corresponding to a second mathematical function for negative particle data values, 
 
 wherein at least one transformation comprises the steps of:
 (a) multiplying the first mathematical function by a first weight function; 
 (b) multiplying the logarithmic function by a second weight function; and 
 (c) summing the results of steps (a) and (b), and 
 
 wherein the first weight function is continuous over a range in particle data values (0, +∞), and monotonically decreases from 1 to 0 over a range (0, +∞) in particle data values, to generate transformed data. 
 
     
     
       9. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium having control logic stored therein for causing a computer to transform particle data for each particle of a plurality of particles, said control logic comprising:
 a first computer readable program code that enables the computer to perform:
 a first transformation of data for each particle of the plurality of particles according to a weighted combination of a first mathematical function and a logarithmic function for positive particle data values, wherein the first transformation corresponds to the first mathematical function for positive particle data values approaching zero; and 
 a second transformation corresponding to a second mathematical function for negative particle data values, 
 
 wherein at least one transformation comprises the steps of:
 (a) multiplying the first mathematical function by a first weight function; 
 (b) multiplying the logarithmic function by a second weight function; and 
 (c) summing the results of steps (a) and (b), and 
 
 wherein the second weight function is continuous over a range in particle data values (0, +∞), and monotonically increases from 0 to 1 over a range (0, +∞) in particle data values, to generate transformed data.